Meeting dates are: Aug 23, Sept 27, Oct. 25, Nov. 29, Jan 24, Feb. 28, Mar. 27, April 24

Check with the office on the new volunteer status to becoming a volunteer and/or if you are already a current volunteer from another school coming into this school the protocol. I know it has changed.

In an effort to increase parent involvement at the school level, the Francis Howell School District has joined the National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS). In conjunction with Johns Hopkins University, the NNPS has done extensive research that concludes that strong partnerships between school, family, and community have a positive impact on students' learning and development. At FHMS, a team of parents, teachers, and administrators was trained in Parent Involvement in the fall of 2006. The "PIT Crew" is charged with supporting school improvement goals in the areas of achievement, attendance, behavior, and climate, while building relationships between home, school, and community.


PTO
The Parent Teacher Organization is a vital parent group that focuses on fundraising to support important programs and celebrations in our building. PTO sponsors fall and spring fundraisers, two book fairs, and teacher appreciation events. There is a strong partnership with PIT.


BIG
The Building Improvement Group is a dynamic group of FHMS teachers, administrators, and parents that meets monthly to focus on goals and action plans to improve student performance, attendance, behavior, and climate.


Parents are welcome and encouraged to attend monthly PIT, PTO, and BIG meetings!

Be a Parent Volunteer!

If you have already completed a district background check and are listed as "approved" in the FHSD database you are ready to volunteer! Please contact Laurie Holder in the FHMS main office at 851-4868 or laurie.holder@fhsdschools.org to confirm your clearance.

If you need to complete the background check process, please contact Mrs. Simmons in the main office to get a volunteer packet. Becoming a cleared volunteer involves filling out an FHMS volunteer form, submitting a Department of Social Services/Missouri Highway Patrol form, and watching a 20 minute volunteer video. If you have lived in Missouri for less than five years, you will also be required to have your fingerprints taken. You will be required to update your background check and view the video once every four years and will be notified when your renewal is required.

Make sure you have subscribed to eNEWS for FHMS so that you can receive our daily announcements and volunteer requests via email. To subscribe to eNEWS, go to the district website, www.fhsdschools.org, click on the blue eNEWS box, and follow the directions from there.

Created in 2007 by the Parent Involvement Team, the Parent Lending Library at Francis Howell Middle School offers a variety of helpful materials relevant to middle school-aged children.

Our current catalog of items is listed on the school website. Go to http://fhm.fhsd.k12.mo.us, click on FHMS Information Links Page in the upper right corner and then click on Parent Library Catalog Listing of Books. To check out a book, email your request and your child's ID number to FHMS Librarian Kelly Hauquitz at kelly.hauquitz@fhsdschools.org. She can leave the book for you in the office or send it home with your child. All books will come with a special bookmark that will give you an opportunity to provide feedback on your selection. Books are due two weeks from the date checked out and are renewable.

Our plan is to add to our library collection each year, so check our online list periodically for new selections. Feel free to email Mrs. Hauquitz with any titles you feel would be good additions to our library! Donations of new or gently used books are also greatly appreciated!